At the height of the protest about 1000 people were there. Photo: RNZ / Krystal Gibbens
Two large marches, one pro-Palestine, the other pro-Israel, converged on Parliament's lawn on Wednesday afternoon.
The Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa had organised an 'Aotearoa National Rally for Gaza' to walk through Wellington on Wednesday and deliver a petition to MPs.
Pro-Palestine and pro-Israel supporters are both present. Photo: Lillian Hanly
They were instead met with a gathering of pro-Israeli protesters, waving flags and chanting "bring them home" on a megaphone.
An organiser from the pro-Palestine side claimed they organised their protest first. But she said the government had facilitated both for freedom of speech.
A person standing with Israel said they were there to stand against rising anti-Semitic sentiment.
At the height of the protest there were about 500 protesters on each side and an RNZ reporter at the scene said it had been peaceful - although some barbs had been exchanged with both sides accusing each other of genocide.
Pro-Palestine and pro-Israel supporters are both present. Photo: Samuel Rillstone
MPs from Labour, the Green Party, and Te Pāti Māori stood on Parliament's forecourt to welcome the pro-Palestine marchers.
ACT MP Simon Court was seen speaking with the pro-Israel contingent, which also included former National MP Alfred Ngaro, and Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki.
Two marches have converged on the lawn at Parliament. Photo: Giles Dexter
Police had set up a barricade between the two sides of the lawn.
The Greens have launched a member's bill following the rally, calling on the government to duplicate the framework of the Russia Sanctions Act to allow sanctions to be imposed against Israel.
There was a large Destiny Church contingent in the pro-Israel side. Many were wearing Man Up shirts.
A final speaker associated with Destiny Church demanded the government not give any further funding to the Palestinian groups, claiming they were tied up with Hamas.
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